Mr Jonsson’s love of horseracing included riding in amateur races in the 1940s. He rode at such venues as Lions River Karkloof, Hilton Road, Greytown, Isipingo, Mooi River and Maritzburg.He won a few races and extracted much enjoyment from this pastime. He also never missed a professional race meeting as a spectator and loved to have a flutter. In the 1940s he kept a carefully compiled register of every bet he ever took and also recorded the gate fee in the accounts record.

Legend has it that Ben had only £35 from his savings to spend, and had to borrow the remaining £15 from his employer, which he redeemed at £2 a month. Unable to afford the training fees, Ben leased the colt to the grandfather of David Pianel, famous for his association with the studs of the Rowles family (Ivanhoe) and Sydney Press’ Coromandel Stud. Ben’s colt was no champion. He won two heats on the same day at the Lions River gymkhana. But he went on to own many good horses – the likes of the Qui Danzig galloper, What A Question, amongst them.

In his latter years he would still attend virtually every KZN meeting. He was by this time quite a prolific owner together with his son NIck. Mr Jonsson founded the successful company Jonsson Workwear, which is now owned by Nick.